RH?

I've mentioned before that "snacking" on Tums or calcium supplements has become a bad habit I'm trying to break. It's strange because I never craved sweets before surgery. Well, today I did really well completely avoiding my "candy"...and my blood sugar tanked to 49 about 90 mins after lunch. I've been off all my diabetes meds since the day of surgery, and my last A1c was 5.6%. Does the timing sound like reactive hypoglycemia? I had some crackers with peanut butter and it went up to 101 in about 10 minutes. I had one other instance like this a few weeks ago, but it only dropped to about 66 then. If it is RH, what should I do, both when it happens and to prevent it in the first place? I had the same thing for lunch I have at least once a week. I'm wondering if this is why I've been craving simple sugars so badly lately.

I suggest contacting doctor with glucose running that low. I hope you get a handle on this soon. 

Best to you. 

Thanks, I'm just waiting for a call back from my endocrinologist's office.

RH is usually controlled by eating a high protein/low carb diet and eating a very small (200 to 300 calories), protein forward, meal every 3 to 4 hours.  Eating that frequently keeps your blood sugar stable.  I usually have an RH episode when I go too long between meals.  

You don't say what you ate for lunch.  Simple carbs like bread, crackers, and even high glycemic fruits can cause an RH episode.  Excessive exercise can bring one on too.  

Crackers and peanut butter are my "go to" when I feel RH coming on.  Just be sure you don't eat too many.  You only need one or two crackers with a gob of peanut butter.

On a side note. Tums are calcium carbonate and can cause you to develop kidney stones.  Kidney stones are excruciatingly painful.  That would stop me from popping Tums like candy.  If you are using Tums as your Calcium supplement, you should know that we don't absorb calcium carbonate very easily because we don't have the stomach acid to break it down.  Calcium Citrate is what we should be taking.

Thanks Rocky. I do eat 5-6 small meals (usually 150-250 cals) a day. Today for lunch I had chicken tortilla soup with avocado, but I did have more of the tortilla chips than I usually do. It wasn't by much though -- maybe 3/4 oz. instead of 1/2. The real difference today was that instead of a protein-forward mid-morning snack, I had a handful of cereal that someone left in the break room. Subbing carbs (even whole-grain carbs) for my usual protein may have been my downfall.

I've given up the Tums, fortunately. I do take calcium citrate (chewable, which I also have to fight to not eat like candy); I had just been eating the Tums on top of it. But like with gum, I just decided not to buy anymore, so I haven't had any at all this week.

DO NOT eat simple carbs;  they transform into sugar which triggers insulin production which then gives you the lowered blood glucose numbers.  (by the way, 5.6 is a good number)  

I found that even ground corn was a trigger for me;  if I ate it, I wanted more of it.  If I avoid simple carbs I can control my RH.  It will take a few days to lose the urge to eat the refined carbs, but once you get over that hump it should be OK.  

If you find yourself getting hungry, drink water or tea.  After 20 minutes, if you still feel you need to eat, have some high protein food.

And, yes, definitely do the calcium citrate

I know some people do it, but I cannot eat cereal of any kind ...   I have a list of foods that I NEVER eat - because I know the consequences are not worth it.

NOw you know what happens, it should encourage you to steer clear!